[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 I’ve been having discussions with a ton of 76ers fans about how their starting lineup should be. I believe that it’s pretty simple, but a lot of people have other opinions on how they should construct their lineup and what position Ben Simmons will play, 

I believe the starting lineup should be:

1. Markelle Fultz
2. JJ Redick
3. Robert Covington
4. Ben Simmons
5. Joel Embiid

The player that most seem to want in the starting lineup is Dario Saric and they want him to replace Robert Covington. Also, they seem to believe that Ben Simmons will the point guard for this team. I disagree with both of those assumptions even though Brett Brown said previously that Ben Simmons will be his starting point guard. Being the primary facilitator is a bit different being the point guard. Ben Simmons won’t be guarding the opposing ball handling facilitator or their position, he will guard the opposing power forwards/small forward. 

I would start Robert Covington over Dario Saric is basically because Covington is one of the top defensive players in the league and a Ben Simmons/Dario Saric will cause defensive problems and floor spacing problems. Dario may shoot better than Robert Covington, but Covington offers more off the ball movement than Dario. Covington was top 5 in defensive player of the year voting and almost made an all defensive team this past season. Rolling with a line up with Fultz, Redick, Simmons, Dario, and Embiid will have 3-4 players that’s either average or below average defenders at their position. I believe Fultz will actually be a good defender in the league and Simmons could be as well if he’s ask to guard primarily in the post, not the perimeter.

Another reason why I would start Covington over Dario is because of the 6th man role. I believe Dario will become the best 6th man in the league. Pairing him with Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz in the starting lineup hurts his role and his game. He works better with the ball in his hands and the offense running through him. To maximize his potential i would have him as the Lamar Odom of the team.

What are your thoughts on what lineup the 76ers should start on opening night?

 

 

 

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

 So every night when Steph doesn’t guard the opposing team’s PG he’s no longer the PG????

I agree with 4/5 of your starting lineup. I think Covington should start for the reasons you’ve mentioned and Saric will do great off the bench.  However, I don’t think Fultz should start initally and they should go with Bayless.  

 

[holefillers1Participant]

 This is the best lineup with Saric coming off the bench and closing games.  Covington is a solid 3D wing with a much higher shooting% on open looks.  He definitely gets the starting nod for his ability to space.  I also agree with Bankroll that if there was a slight adjustment to the lineup, it would have to be Bayless for Fultz.  

If Simmons is the primary ball handler then it’s crucial to surround him with shooters.  If Brett Brown says Ben is a PG then you basically have a three gaurd lineup with a great perimeter defender in Roco and the man in the middle that makes KAT look like an eighth grader. I can’t wait.

 

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 It’s not like Markelle Fultz is a bad shooter. In two full games in Utah, he shot 46% from the NBA three while taking multiple half court shots, whiched he missed. He is a really good shooter. You will also want to surround Simmons with playmakers too and players that can take the pressure off of him. Look at LeBron and Kyrie, the Cavs didn’t just put only shooters. You need a secondary ball handler and if you want to win, Jarryd Bayless is not that. 

Ben Simmons will be the power forward that primarily bring the ball up. Brett Brown backtracked his statement when he claimed that Ben Simmons will be the point guard when they drafted Fultz and Ben Simmons sorta indicated that he probably won’t be it when he was interviewed about it. I look at it as what Jason Kidd and Giannis, Jason Kidd always says that he would play Giannis as his point guard, but he works best as a power forward/small forward and he’s listed as such. 

 

[holefillers1Participant]

   I think that Fultz’ rookie year will see him contribute more as a spot up shooter or perimeter threat.  As his comfort level grows, so will his role

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

He (Stephen Curry) typically still guards the guards and a lot of times he guards point guards as well. I believe that I may have said "typically" when I was mentioning you are who you guards. And it’s pretty funny how you only used one example for your reasoning.

I don’t see one reason why you should start Jarryd Bayless other than the fact that he’s older and more wiser than Markelle Fultz. Even though I take little grain in what coaches say regarding what positions a player will play, I believe he said that Fultz will be the starter. And it safe to say that he will be the starter based on history with the 76ers and the history of top picks in the NBA. They like to throw their picks in the fire and give them bunch of playing time and even start. They threw Joel Embiid in the fire even when he came off of missing 2 season with injuries. It’s hard to see why a player like Jarryd Bayless over the player that they traded up to get at the top selection.

 

 

  

[MatosParticipant]

 I still want Saric in there at the 4. Playing the 4 is going to have Simmons beat up. Especially with him not having a jumper yet. Maybe its just my biased toward Covington because I can barely tolerate him. Love the idea of JJ and Saric on the perimeter. Personally I understand why the Sixers had to get Fultz at #1 (they needed a PG and he was projected the best) but I’ve always been a Josh Jackson fan and never sold on Fultz.  Hope he proves me wrong. Either way I’d start him and have him develop some chemistry with this starting unit from day 1. No need to beat around the bush if he’s the future PG.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 Yeah, people are putting too much literal sense into what Brett Brown said when he views Simmons as the point guard of team. He did not mean that Simmons would play that position come next year and be guarding players that were 5-7 inches shorter than he was, he simply meant that would be bringing the ball up the court and initiating the offense. Simmons will guard the opposing teams SF/PF and then initiate the offense. What Simmons will be doing on offense is esssentially what a point guard does which is why Brown said that. Public took him too literally, when they should have read in between the lines.

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

 Exactly

[markfitz14Participant]

He will play a similar role. Bring the ball up like Bron does and initiate the offense.

I’m sure it will be nice to have Fultz who can def handle the ball as well. Take a little pressure of Simmons having to do it everytime though.

  

[MatosParticipant]

 I think a lot of folks already know this. There’s just also those folks who don’t know shit about basketball actually thinking Simmons playing the 1 and guarding opposing PGs is a thing.

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

he’ll just RUN the team, the offense will run through Simmons.  Even Embiid said Simmons through practice last year was the best player on the court.  He is a passing Wizard with a very high IQ.  NBA TV has been showing old Lakers playoff games and I imagine the Sixers will play like the Magic-Kareem Lakers.  Showtime is coming to Philly.

The only thing they are missing is a stud PF like Worthy, and that may very well be Saric.  But I also am more comfortable with Saric with McConnell and Bayless as my bench.

Covington I am not a huge fan I think he is a chucker on offense, but that was playing in the NBA with a summer league roster (literally, Hollis Thompson, Jakarr Sampson, etc).  

Covington is going to be the 5th option on offense now, so his defense is more necessary than his offensive weakness. 

I love Saric as a bench guy that can outplay other NBA benches.  I don’t think he is great against bonafide NBA bigs.  I think he is slightly undersized.  His offensive game needs a lot of consistency.  He’s better than bench players, with a high IQ.  I like Saric coming off the bench.  He’s a tweener as a PF, and a tweener between being a starter and bench player in the NBA.

I need Saric to be a Sam Perkins role player who hits big buckets.  Mentally strong.  

 

  

[holefillers1Participant]

http://www.google.com/amp/s/www.libertyballers.com/platform/amp/2017/4/12/15273546/brett-brown-on-ben-simmons-when-i-say-point-guard-i-mean-point-guard 

Brett Brown talks about him being a full time PG on offense and guarding whoever guards him so not to cross match on fast breaks and what not. Brown says other teams probably won’t have their PG’s defending Ben so it will be interesting to see how this works.  But read the article, Brett literally says he intends to try this and says he isn’t going to be quick to walk it back…literally.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

I read the article and agree with that statement.

[publius2481Participant]

I think you hit what will eventually be there starting lineup at some point this year (provided everyone stays healthy). However, on opening night I would guess Saric starts instead of Simmons. I think this for three reasons. First, I think the Sixers will want to give both Fultz and Simmons chances to initiate the offense early in the season and that will be easier if Simmons is comming off the bench. Second, coming off an injury, I expect Brown to limit Simmons minutes early (as a precaution), and again that is easier to do if Simmons comes off the bench. Third, Saric is going to play better than Simmons early. Players make a big leap between their first and second year and that will give Saric an advantage at the beginning of the year. Now, eventually Simmons will start, although I would not be surprised if Saric’s play makes it a tough choice.

[OllstarParticipant]

PG McConnell

SG Redick

SF Covington

PF Simmons

C Embiid

6th man Fultz

 

 

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

It will more than likely be

Fultz, Reddick, Covington, Simmons, Embiid.

The Warriors have a team of great 2 way players all with high IQs.  This "versatility" is really just smart players 1-5 that can play both ways and pass, with Draymond being the KEY to versatility.

Its a little worrisome to me, I’ll just give random grades to each of the starter’s defensive and offensive abilities.

Fultz – Defense:  C-.  He Tries, but he cannot stay in front of anyone.  I don’t think you can just "learn" to play defense.  I think you have to have strong legs and an ability to position your feet and anticipate very well.  James Harden never just learned to get better at defense and the guy is a premier high IQ basketball player.  I don’t think Fultz is a good defensive player, I’ve seen him get in his defensive stance and still fail to react in time, and have summer league guards get past him.  He has a freak reach so yes he makes up for it by possibly blocking the shot, and he will be a very good help defender due to his ability to block a shot.  I see him struggling with more athletic guards in the league defensively.

Reddick – Defense: C-.  This is the scary part.  Both guards with such poor ratings.  Reddick also has a tough time staying in front of guards, if teams go small on the Sixers who is going to be able to stay in front of their man.  You assume Covington will take on the best guard, but you’re left with Reddick and Fultz.  You have Embiid in the paint which is a major major help, but you can see a lot of defensive breakdown with penetration against these two guards.  Reddick is only getting older.  

Covington – Defense: A.  Established himself as a top defender in the league and can guard 1 through 3.  Basically you will need him out there.  I hate his offensive shot selection and didn’t like Brett Brown’s constantly encouraging him to shoot, I think he has to become better as a smarter and better shot taker.  Bascially there is a fine line between summer league baller Covington and potential first team defense Covington.  I love his length out there, I appreciate it more when you see guys like Okafor out there.

Simmons – Defense: B-.  Obviously haven’t seen him play.  I think he can easily guard stretch 4s.  When locked in he can guard guards as well, I think he is a freak and smart and knows positioning.  I think he will get banged around by bigger 4s, like when the Thunder used to roll out Kanter and Drogo.  But as a power forward wiht the guard weakness, yu only hope he can ball HARD and his body can withstand the punishment over 82 games.  I will say, I remember in summer league watching him bang with a strong guy like Bobby Portis, and he didn’t back down at all.  Portis is a fringe NBA player though, so let’s see.  I hope Simmons can be a Draymond type, he’s taller than him.  But it remains to be seen, another big quesiton on D.

Embiid – Defense: A.  So you have two A defenders, and two athletic guys in Simmons and Fultz whose Defense remains to be seen.  You hope Simmons and Fultz can guard enough, but this team is still very young wih developing bodies.  I wonder how tough they will be on the defensive side, because I don’t like Fultz Defense, and Simmons is a major question mark and they are all young.  

I’d like to go through every roster and give my random grades to every player in the league just to compare the Sixers situation.  I’ll do that with the Warriors.

But for the bench, I think Okafor is a D on defense, McConnel is a C+, Bayless is a B-, Saric is a C+, TLC is a B-, Holmes is a B+, Anderson is a B-, and Amir Johnson is a B.  

 

The Warriors Defense:

Curry – B – he for his size is very good as positioning.  He doesn’t fall asleep and have people blow by him.  He usually doesn’t guard the best guard and thats fine.  As long as he isn’t falling asleep and giving and effort and doesn’t allow people to get past him, thats all you want.

Thompson – A – Thompson is a true 2 way player.  He will guard and stay in front of most guards, and does the best he can to guard the premier 1 on 1 guard in the league in Kyrie.  So you see the Sixers cannot compare defensively right now to Curry and Thompson, offensively is probably much closer than defensively.

Durant – A- – his length and again, ability to stay in front of players and give a maximum effort.  He is up there with Covington from the Sixers roster on Defense.

Draymond – A – great at being able to play bigs and smalls.  Very high IQ on how to affect as on ball and help defender.  Again, comparing to the Sixers, you really hope Simmons can learn to play help Defense.  You Wonder if the Sixers can afford and Simmons has the stamina to play big minutes as a Draymond type defender and initiatior of offense.  Simmons has a huge help in that he can rely on Fultz and Embiid to do a lot of the scoring.  But Simmons is going to have to lock in on D like Draymond…can he do it?

Pachulia – B- – again, is not a bad defender at all.  Solid rebounder and able to bang with NBA bigs.  Not a questionmark on defense.

Iguodala – A – an absolute stud defender with great hands and high IQ.  

West, Livingston, Bell, McCaw – all of these guys are B defenders.  Nobody is a questionmark on D.  They can all play both ways.

I think the Sixers have far more question marks on D.  We have one bonafide incredible two way player in Embiid if he stays healthy, and the rest are all question marks.  We are a ways away from being the GSW.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

[2quick4uParticipant]

 i’m not sure what the sixers will do, but looking at their roster this is what i would personally do to make those players work as efficiently as possible, trying both to develop their young talent individually and collectively at the same time, which means do not give up the playoffs.

i personally believe it’s not that important to start or to come as reserve; the most important is how can a player help his team win while developing himself as a player, and here is where the coach’s job becomes fundamental as he has to make his players believe, that the decisions he makes are the best for the player and for the team looking at a bigger picture. This is something we understand well in europe but seems that it’s not well understood in the US, because of the ego culture.

so here are the players i’d start and the reasons why:

PG- ben simmons

SG- jj redick

SF- convington

PF- holmes

C- embid

* simmons will be the PG on this team, no question about it; he is such a unique talent with such unique skills that not giving him the ball would be the most waste of talent in history.. but if simmons has the ball in his hands it means he has to be surrounded by efficient shooters/scorers that don’t need to dribble much to score.

so in the wings he needs to have redick, as he is the best and most efficient shooter on the team, and then covington, whom is a catch/pop and shoot player that averaged a respectable 43% FG the last 3 months while hitting +2 triples a game and while being the best defender on the team; he’s also very active and will get easy points from cuts to the basket, helping the team’s flow. Covington would defend the best guard on the other team, wether is a PG or a SG, and simmons the SF.

i really like TLC and korkmaz but i think tlc is still an inefficient shooter and korkmaz is still too young so i think they are not the best players to have around simmons, at least yet..; stauskas is also very inefficient (39%) and not a good defender.. 

holmes should start at the 4 as he is a very efficient player who can get easy buckets in many ways without needing the ball, and can also hit the jumper and even the triple while being a versatile defender who can defend switches; as covington, he’s also very active and the movement w/o ball of these two players will help simmons take advantage of his vision/passing skills.

embid will be the scoring force while being on the court, and will help simmons spreadind the floor out; when simmons plays in the low post taking advantage of smaller defenders, embid can wait in the 3 point line to hit the triple.

i think fultz really needs to come off the bench, i think is the best for him to really develope as a player and to see what type of player can he become. If he starts with simmons and embid he won’t have the ball in his hands and will be annulled by those two, not letting him develop properly.

same for saric, i think that him and simmons cannot play together and they would only obstruct each other, not getting the best from neither of the two; plus saric right now is not an efficient shooter and things could get ugly with him and simmons together. Saric could still play a lot of minutes as simmons won’t play more than 25-30min and embid 20-25min. so he’ll still have good numbers and the sixers will have great depth. Saric could be a 2.0 detlef schrempf.

i think that simmons surrounded by those 4 players would get the best from him, while fultz and saric would still play plenty of time while developing their own games. I think this formula would get the best from their talent and that would translate in as many wins as possible.

i also believe they really need to slow the pace down; it makes absolutely no sense they play such a high pace (5th highest) having simmons, embid and no very efficient shooters; playing with the 5 players i propose and at a slowest pace, it would really improve their efficiency and they would be a pretty good defensive team, with very long and versatile players (except redick) and with a great rim protector like embid.

in the other hand, if they play fultz, simmons, saric and embid together, things could get ugly in my opinion, as there would be no rhythm/flow, no space, no efficiency and what is worst, players would not develop properly and they would not give the best from them, making the sixers lose games and time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

I just question Holmes perimeter Defense ability to step out and on offense he has to give Embiid his space.

It was obviously uncomfortable with Jah and Embiid in there together, Embiid didn’t like being the anchor on both offense and defense, and playing the PF role.

I think Simmons and Holmes had an easy mental connection in Summer League.  I would always say Brett Brown should at least try Holmes since he is a different animal than Okafor (far more mobile and much better at crashing boards), against other teams iwth bigger lineups.

Too often I’d see Saric not be able to guard against bigger lineups, why not try Holmes out there with Embiid.

I’m not okay with labeling Holmes as your starting PF.  I think it all depends on how to matchup best against the opponent.  But Simmons, Holmes, Embiid, Covington, and either Fultz or Reddick would be a nasty defensive team, if Simmons can guard the swing which I think he can.

I don’t get the Amir Johnson signing at all, he is aging with bad knees, and I think we have a better version of him in Holmes.  Holmes can do a lot more and he is younger.  I would’ve MUCH rather have spent that money on a Patrick Peterson type, a guy who plays hard and can get you stretch buckets.  

Peterson can start over Saric, and Saric, McConnell, and Holmes can run the bench squad (and be great), and then if you need Holmes to play PF against bigger lineups you plug him in.

Holmes needs to develop his midrange and 3 point shot more, but you start him for his Defense.  He will easily get you putback trash and crash boards, but…if he can work on that midrange jumper he is solid next to Joel. 

Holmes Embiid Fultz Simmons Saric is A TON of blocked shots.  

  

[2quick4uParticipant]

 since embid got injured and holmes got more minutes, his numbers increased a lot; in the last month and a half holmes averaged: 13’5 pts./7.5 rb/1.5 ast. /1bl /1st /55% FG /80% FT and almost 1 triple a game!

i think in that span of time, he showed he can knock down shots from mid-range and even the 3 point line with some consistency and with good FG%; not only that, but he showed he can score in a variety of ways like floaters or hook shots very interesting…Here some highlights of his shooting: http://www.youtube.com/watch

he also showed he can perfectly defend perimeter players in switches. Here some highlights of his perimeter defense (min. 0’55 and 1’53): http://www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

[Dell87Participant]

 Not bad. 

But saric will probably start over Covington 

Pg. Fultz

SG. Reddick 

Sf. Simmonds 

Pf. Saric 

C. Embid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

I’d go with Saric as starting PF alongside Fultz, Reddick, Simmons and Embeast.

We still don’t know exactly how the offence will work and what position Simmons will guard on defence.

We also have to consider how Philly space their experience on court – Fultz, Saric, Simmons and Embeast have only played just over 100 NBA games combined so might one or more begin the season on the bench and be fitted into the starting line up as the season progresses like Ingram was with Lakers last season?

Amir Johnson is a very experienced guy but to fit him into the starting line up alongside Saric and Simmons would be hard unless Simmons was full time PG which would mean benching Fultz or using Reddick as 6th man.

[mowestenParticipant]

 76er starting five

 

C — Christian Welp

PF — Charles Shackleford

SF — Leo Rautins

SG — Jeff Malone

 

PG — BJ Tyler

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 There is no way Kyle Cuniffe is coming off the bench!

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Simmons is an Elite rebounder & is Most dangerous in transition off the defensive glass where he can Kill teams w/ his passing in the fast break & he’s a phenominal athlete who will be a really strong defender on PF’s especially w/ Embiid behind him guarding the rim

I realize Simmons will be the primary initiator on offense – if you want to call that the starting PG that’s fine – he will be the decision maker in the 1/2 court set

But it’s not going to be an offense run by one man say for example the way the Clippers used to run Everythinhg thru Chris Paul

That starting line up of Embiid, Simmons, Fultz, Reddick & Covington is going to operate in the half court Exactly the way Miami of 2013 operated b/c Fultz & Simmons can alternate running the P&R w/ Embiid’s ability to step out & hit the 3 like Bosh or go down low & post up & then Reddick will play the Rayu Allen role w/ Covington being that dogged perimeter defender playing the Shane Battier role although Covingrton can shoot the 3 as well.

Colangelo & Brown have really put together a starting 5 that will fit Perfectly in the P&R 3/pt focused modern NBA. 

And I Luv Saric on the 2nd team w/ Bayless, Holmes, TJ McConnell & Luwawu – that is a Strong 2nd team & Saric is a stud who will obviously be out there sometimes w/ the starters. But Phila has a strong 10 man deep team that should make them a strong playoff contender once they Gel which will take half a season I would guess. But I hate to admit it but Phila did a quick 4 year Rebuild & they have some Scary talent on that team.

 

 

 

 

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